Railway-signal.



No. 761,208. v PATENTED MAY 31,1904. J. P. COLEMAN.

RAILWAY SIGNAL. LAPPLIOATION FILED saw. 4. 1903. no MODEL.

IllIllIIllIHIIIIIIIIIMJIIIIIIIIIHI W may/(00 M5 ITTOI? El WI TIVESSES No. 761,208. PATENTED MAY 31, 1904.

J. P. COLEMAN.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4. 1903, no 101m. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A v mH ll Wl TNESSES HIS ITTO Er 4 UNITED STATES Patented May 31, 1904.:

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN 'PREssLEY. COLEMAN, OF. EDGEWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION, SWITCH .& SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENN- SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,208, dated May 31, 1904.

. Application filed September 4,1903. Serial No. 171,940. (No model.)

1'0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN PRESSLEY COLE;- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgewood, in the county of Allegheny and 5 State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Signals, of which the following is a. specification. My invention relates to railway-signals, and particularly to that class of railway-signals 1 which employ; fluid pressure as a motive power. I r

My invention has especial referencetothis type of railway-signal when it is controlled by a lever, which may be located in a tower. I will describe a railway-signal embodying "my invention and then point outjthe novel features thereof in the claims. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view,'partly in elevation, partly in vertical section, and partly in diagram, of a railwaysignal and the controlling means therefor embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view, partly in vertical section and partly'in elevation, of a portion of the apparatus or mechanism em 2 5 bodied in the railway-signal illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail elevational view. Figs. 2 and 3 are drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 1. Similar letters of reference designate corre- Z sponding parts in all of the figures. Y 3 I will premise that wherever I hereinj use the term signal I mean a visual signaldevice which by its position relatively to its support or by its color gives indication of the service condition of the railroad track or section of railroad-track which it governs.

Also wherever I herein use the term .gfluidpressure I mean a liquid or gas underfpressure. 1 preferably employ a gas. Any gas may be employedas, for example, air or 4 carbonic-acid gas and under any pressure which is suflicient or more than suflicient to operate the apparatus or mechanism for moving the signal. If the pressure of the gas or liquid be above that required for the operation of the apparatus or mechanism for moving the signal, reducing-valves may be employed in their proper places.

Referring now to the drawings, A designates a visual signal device, here shown as being of the semaphore type, and comprising, 5 as usual, a blade (0 and a casting a, sometimes called a spectacle, which moves the blade to one position of indication when the signal device is not free to move-that is, when the device is not held by any agency or means as, for example, fluid-pressurein a position indicating caution or safety. The signal device istherefore biased to one position of indication, generally the horizontal position, which indicates danger or stop. The 'signal device is pivoted, as usual, on a post or other support A, and it is moved from one position of indication to another, generally from the horizontal position of indication to an inclined position, which indicates 5 clear, safety, or caution, through the agency of a rod B. One end of the rod B is operativol y connected with the signal device, and the other end 'is operatively connected with a fluid pressure apparatus or mechanism or other apparatus or mechanism which is designed to'move the signal device from one position of indication to another.

D designates a fluid-pressure apparatus or mechanism for moving the signal from one position of indication to another. It is here shown as being in the form of a motor consisting of a piston d and a cylinder d within which the piston moves. Fluid-pressure for operating the apparatus D is supplied through 0 a pipe or conduit d leading from any desired source of fluid-pressure supply.

d designates a valve or cook inthe pipe or conduit 0Z The passage'of the fluid-pressure to the apparatus is governed aside from the 5 valve 0i by an electrically-operated valve device E. The valve device E may conveniently be substantially of the form and arrangement illustrated and described in United States Pat ent No. 357,109, issued February 1, 1887, to 9 George Westinghouse, J r., for electrical interlocking mechanism for switches and signals, to which patent reference maybe had. It is only necessary to here state any electricallyoperated valve device employed should have the function of opening the supply of fluid- .back to the battery.

pressure when the magnet comprised in the device is energized and of closing or cutting off the supply of fluid-pressure when said magnet is deenergized and opening an exhaust port or passage to the atmosphere.

0 e designate valves which are moved or operated when the magnet is energized. The valve 0 opens and closes the port through which the fluid-pressure passes to the cylinder cZ, and the valve 6 opens and closes the port 0 through which the fluid-pressure escapes from the apparatus to the atmosphere. It will be understood that when the valve 6 is unseated the valve 0 will be seated, and vice versa.

The operation of the railway-signal so far as described will be readily understood. Upon the closing of the circuit, including the magnet of the electrically-operated valve device, which magnet is inclosed by the casing 0 the valve 6 will be unseated to permit the fluid-pressure to pass into the cylinder and move the piston therein to the lower portion of the cylinder. The rod (Z of the piston (Z is connected to one end of a pivoted lever (Z and the other end of the lever is connected with the end'of the rod B. The downward movementof the piston causes the lever (Z to be rocked on its pivot, and the signal device through the rod B is moved from the horizontal position of indication to an inclined position of indication, The signal device will be held in the'inclined position of indication so long as the piston ZZ is acted upon by the fluid-pressure. When the signal device is to be moved to the horizontal position of indication through gravity acting on the counterweight a, the supply of fluid-pressure is cut off from the cylinder, and this is preferably accomplished by opening the circuit of the magnet of the electrically operated valve device. When the magnet is deenergized, the valve cis seated by the spring beneath it and the valve .6 unseated at the same time, thereby allowing the fluid-pressure in the cylinder to escape through the port 0 to the atmosphere. I

' The circuit in which the magnet of the electrically-operated valve device is included may be opened and closed in any desired manner. In the present instance the circuit is opened and closed by means of a lever L, which may be located at any desired point-as, for example, in a tower. The lever L has connected with it a bridge-plate Z, which slides upon a contact-plate Z and between two contact-plates Z Z the one Z being for one signal (thatillustrated in Fig.. 1) and the other, Z being for another signal. When the bridge-plate Z is moved between the contact-plates Z and Z (see dotted lines, Fig. 1,) a closed circuit will be established, which, starting from a battery Z, is wires 1 2, contact-plate Z, bridge-plate Z, contact-plate Z wires 3 and 4, magnet of the electrically-operated valve device, and wire 5,

The magnet of the electrically-operated valve device will shift the valves 6 e from the position shown in Fig. 2 to a position in which the valve 0 will be seated and the valve 0 opened. Fluid-pressure will then pass the valve 0 and through the passage o to the cylinder (Z to move the piston (Z ,to the lower end thereof and the signal from its horizontal position of indication, Fig. 1, to an inclined position of indication. When the lever L is moved back to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 1, the circuit of the magnet of the electrically-operated valve device will be broken, and the valves 6 a will be moved to the positions shown in Fig. 2 by the spring a; The fluid-pressure supply will then be cut off from the cylinder, and the fluid-presthrough the passage 6 and port 0 to the atmosphere, allowing the piston to move up in the cylinder due to the downward movement of the spectacle a.

i The lever L may be one of a number of levers which; are arranged side by side in a frame, and these levers may be mechanically interlocked, which mechanical locking is so arranged that one lever is made.to release or look a certain other lever or levers, as service conditions may require. Ordinarily a lever controlling the position of a switch in a line of rails is interlocked with a levercontrolling the position of a signal governing the passage of trains over the switch- These levers may also be mechanically interlocked with other levers controlling switches and signals which if not properly placed would give the right of way to trains over a route or routes which would conflict. A common. example is that of a crossing. The crossing rails are usually provided with derail-switches and with sig nals governing the position of the derailswitches. Ordinarily the derail-switches in one or both the crossing lines of the railway are open, and the signals governing the passage of trains over the derail-switches are in the horizontal or danger position of indication. With this condition the levers controlling the derail-switches and. signals are so interlocked that before the signal can be cleared all derail-switches on the same line will have to be closed, and, conversely, before the derailswitches can be opened the signals controlling the passage of trains over them have to be set to the danger position. When a clear route is set up on one of the crossing lines, all the derail-switches or signals on the line to be crossed are in such positions as to stop a train. It sometimes happens that an operator attempts to change the clear route for a train to a danger one, even whilea train is approaching on the clear route. In order to prevent this being done until after a lapse of time, which sure that may be in the cylinderlwill escape may be predetermined, I have provided means which will give a slow release to a lever or lever to be moved to change a route.

In order that the slow release may be ac- .complished, an electriclock is preferably provided for each lever, which electriclock, as

shown in the drawings, comprises an electro-.

magnet M and an armature m, which is operated by the electromagnet. The armature m is adapted to engage under certain conditions a rod m, connected with the lever L, and to prevent the leverL being moved to its final position, and thus release other levers through the mechanical locking. As shown. the ar- I mature m is provided with a hook 122 which is adapted to drop on either side of one or more projections m provided onthe rod m,

"when the magnet M is deenergized. Ordinarily the circuit for the electromagnet is closed when the lever to .which it is applied is in itsnormal position, thus permitting the signal is in the horizontal or danger position.

The circuit for the electromagnet, starting from the battery. Z, is wires 1 6, electromagnet M, wire 7, circuit-breakerK, wire 8, aeircuit-brealier N, and wires 9and 5 to battery. The circiiit brealrer K is operated from the; 1 piston d through a link Zc, which is connected;

with the piston, and a rod 71:, which is suitablyguided in a bracket secured to the fluidpressure mechanism. As shown, the circuitbreaker Kcomprises contact plates or springs; "Ir? and'a bridge-piece 75, carried. the rod; it. When the signal is moved from the horizontal or danger position to an inclined posi-1 tion of indication. which may be a clear or; safety indication, the'bridge-piece will be 1 moved from between the plates 70 I0 and thus; break the circuit of the electromagnet, As: soon as this is done the armature m will fall; behind one of the projections m (the lever L having been previously moved to' the dotted position) and will prevent the lever being put back to normal position until the bridge-piece k is again moved between the contact-plates k 70 to again closethecircuit of the'elect'romagnet M and have it pick up its armature m. This will be yvhen the signalis againin the horizontal position of indication. Until the signal is in this position the lever cannot controlled by the lever has completed its function. 2

In addition to the circuit-breaker K the circuit-breaker N is provided in the circuit of.

the electromagnet and is in series with the circuit-breaker K. If the circuit-breaker K should be closed and the circuit-breaker NI not closed, theelectromagnet Mwould not be energized to pick up or attract the armature m to release the" lever.

The circuit-breakerN isoperated byv aslow-i releasemechanism. As shown, this slow-release mechanism comprises a chamber 0, a diaphragm 0', and an exhaust port or passage 0 which is provided in the Wall of the chamber and controlled by an adjustable valve 0 The chamber 0 is suitably mounted on the cylinderd and is in communication with the cylinder 01 through a passage 0, controlled by a check-valve 0". The diaphragm 0 is located at the upper end of the chamber 0 and is held in position by a cap 0 provided for the chamber 0. The diaphragm is provided with a stud or projection 0 which engages with a lever 9t, comprised in the circuit-breaker. A spring 0 is, provided above the stud 0 the tension of which may be regulated: by a screw 0 in the usual way. The-purpose of the 5 spring 0 is to regulate the movement of the lever 92 by the fluid-pressure under the diaphragm. The circuit-breaker N, as shown, comprises the lever n, pivoted at one end on a pin n, carried by brackets 0 on the cap 0 and havin a conductin in n at its free end 6 b p u and contact springs or plates 11 7Z- ,-Wl]l(3l1 are carried by binding-posts n su tably mounted on a cross-piece 0 and lnsulated from each other. The conducting-pin n is also insulated from the lever n.

When the signal is to be moved from the horizontal position of indication by fluidpressure, the fluid-pressure passing into the cylinder 0? also passes through the passage 0 past the check-valve 0 into the chamber 0.

After sufficient fluid-pressure has entered the chamber it acts upon the diaphragm 0 to cause it, through its stud 0 to move the lever on its pivot and raise the contact-pin from between the two contact-springs n 725", The diaphragm will be held raised until the fluidpressure which has not escaped from the chamber through the port 0 is insuflicient to keep the diaphragm raised. When this occurs, the lever 12- will be forced downward by the spring to again have the contact-pin at between the contact-springs a n The escape of the fluid-pressure from the chamber 0 is regulated'by the valve 0 By moving the valve 0 toward its seat considerable time will pass before the circuit breaker or. is closed, which period of time may be predetermined.

. It will be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to a controllinglever, but may be used in any connection where it is desired to have time elapse before acircuit-breaker comprised in a circuit is closed. Also whileI have described my invention in connection with a lever controlling the operation of a fluid-pressure apparatus or mechanism for moving a signal itis equally applicable to. a lever controlling the operation of a-fluid -'pressure apparatus for moving a railway switchor switches. Also my invention isequally applicable to any other poweroperated apparatus or mechanism for moving signals or switches and also to levers which have a direct mechanical connection with a signal orswitch operating mechanism. Therefore in the claims wherever I use the term lever,I wish it understood that I mean a lever for controlling or operating any sort of apparatus, mechanism, or device for mov- "ing a signal or railway-switch unless otherwise specified.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In combination with a lever, an electric lock for said lever comprising an electromagnet, a circuit for said magnet, a circuit-controller included in said circuit, and a pneumatically-operated means for controlling said circuit-breaker.

2. In combination with a lever, an electric lock for said lever comprising an electromagnet, a circuit for said electromagnet, a circuitbreaker included in said circuit; and meansj for operating said circuit-breaker, comprising a chamber having an exhaust-port, a diaphragm operable by fluid-pressure, and an ad ustable valve for said exhaust-port.

3. In combination with a fluid-pressure ap-' paratus, a chamber mounted on the cylinder of said apparatus and in communication therewith, a checlcvalve controlling said communication, a dlaphragm 1n sald chamber, and a circuit-breaker operated by said diaphragm. 4. The combination of a circuit-breaker,

- means for operating it comprising a chamber having an exhaustport, a diaphragm oper able by fluid-pressure, an adjustablevalve for controlling said exhaust port, and a fluidpressure supply for said chamber electrically controlled.

5. The combination of a circuitbreaker comprising a pivoted lever for movingapart of the circuit-breaker to open and close a circuit, and means for moving said lever, said means comprising a chamber having an exhaust-port and an adjustable valve for said port, a diaphragm operated by fluid-pressure for moving the lever in one direction and a spring for moving the lever in the opposite direction.

' 6. The combination in a railway-signal, of a signal, a fluid-pressure apparatus for moving it from one position of indication to another, an electrically-operated valve device for controlling the supply of fluid-pressure to the fluid-pressure apparatus, a circuit for said electrically-operated valve device, a lever and means operated thereby for opening ,and closing said circuit, an electric lock for fluid-pressure apparatus, a circuit for said electrically-operated valve device, a lever and -means operated thereby for opening and closing said circuit, an electric lock for said lever,

a 'circuitbreaker included in the circuit of said electric lock and means operated by fluidpressure for controlling said last-mentioned circuit-breaker, said means having a slow exhaust for the fluid pressure operating said means.

8. The combination in a railway-signal, of a signal, a fluid-pressure apparatus for moving it from one position of indication to another, an electrically-operated valve device for controlling the supply of fluid-pressure to the fluid-pressure apparatus, a circuit for said electrically-operated valve device, a lever and means'operated thereby for opening and closing said circuit. an electric lock for said lever, a circuit-breaker included in the circuit of said electric lock and means for operating said lastmentioned circuit -breaker, said means comprising a chamber in communication with a'source offluid-pressure supply, a diaphragm in said chamber and a slow exhaust for the fluid-pressure contained in the chamber.

9. The combination in a railway-signal, of a signal, a fluid-pressure apparatus for moving it from one position of indication-to another, an electrically-operated valve device for con trolling the supply of fluidpressure to the fluid-pressure apparatus, a lever and means for controlling a circuit including the electrically-operated valve device, an electric lock for said lever, a circuit for said electric lock, a circuit-breaker in the circuit for the electric lock, and means for moving said circuitbreaker, said means comprising a chamber in communication with the fluid-pressure apparatus, a diaphragm in said chamber influenced by the fluid-pressure therein and which operated the circuit-breaker, and a slow exhaust for the fluid-pressure in said chamber.

10. The combination in arailway-signaLof a signal, a fluid-pressure apparatus for moving it from one position of indication to another, an electrically-operated valve device for controlling the supply of fluid-pressure to the fluid-pressure apparatus, a lever and means for controlling a circuit including the electrically-operated valve device, an electric lock for said lever, a circuit for said electric lock, a circuit-breaker in the circuit for the electric lock and means for moving said circuitbreaker, said means comprising a chamber in communication with the fluid-pressure supply passing the electrically-operated valve device, a check-valve in said communication a diaphragm in said ch amber influenced by the fluid-pressure therein andwhich operated the circuitbreaker, and a slow exhaust for the fluid-pressure in said chamber.

11. The combination in a railway-signaLof a signal, a fluid-pressure apparatus for moving the signal device from one position of indica- 7 tion to another, an electrically-operated valve device for controlling the supply-of fluidpressure to the fluid-pressure apparatus, a lever and means operated thereby for controlling said circuit, an electric lock for said means, a circuit for said electric lock, and a circuit-breaker included in the circuit of the electric lock; and means operated by fluidpressure for controlling said circuit-breaker, sald means comprising a chamber 1n communication with the fluid-pressure apparatus and having an exhaust-port, a diaphragm in said chamber for moving the circuit breaker in one direction, a spring for moving the circuitbreaker in the opposite direction, and an adjustable Valve for theeXhaust-port.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN PRESSLEY COLEMAN.

V Witnesses:

JAMES CHALMERS, Jr., W. L. MCDANIEL. 

